Best Anti Virus/Security Software

[The Dean]

So you'd recommend Avira?

 

Avira is outstanding. Avast is also quite a bit better than AVG. Try the free version of one and see if you like it.

 

Of the two, Avira has a better detection and cleaning rate and you don't have to register (just uncheck everything on the registration page when installing and hit Next). I recommend you do a Custom Install. Check "Select All" when given a list of what you want to be protected against (for some reason that isn't the default) and then select Secure Start. By default it updates once a day (I advise scheduling it to do a complete system scan once a week). It updates invisibly, but opens a popup window with an ad for the paid version. You only get this ad once a day, and hitting "OK" dismisses it.

 

You have to register Avast once a year. By default it announces when it updates, but you can turn the sound off. You also should schedule a once a week full scan. Scheduling the scan at a day/time when you aren't likely to be too busy on the computer makes life easier and both of these products have that capability.

 

 

I listed some other good AV products in an early post in this thread, too.

 

 

Oops. One more thing. When removing Norton, McAfee and in some cases AVG it is best to use the removal tool for the product. For Norton and McAfee don't bother with the uninstaller in Windows. Just run the respective removal tool to make sure they are properly uninstalled:

 

http://majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html

 

http://majorgeeks.com/McAfee_Consumer_Product_Removal_Tool_d5420.html

 

For AVG, use the Uninstall AVG in windows and then use this:

 

http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-tools

 

Avira and Avast need no special removal tools to be properly uninstalled.

Edited September 3, 2010 by The Dean

[ajzepp]

Thanks Dean...AVG uninstalled...Avira downloading now

[thebug]

Avira is outstanding. Avast is also quite a bit better than AVG. Try the free version of one and see if you like it.

 

Of the two, Avira has a better detection and cleaning rate and you don't have to register (just uncheck everything on the registration page when installing and hit Next). I recommend you do a Custom Install. Check "Select All" when given a list of what you want to be protected against (for some reason that isn't the default) and then select Secure Start. By default it updates once a day (I advise scheduling it to do a complete system scan once a week). It updates invisibly, but opens a popup window with an ad for the paid version. You only get this ad once a day, and hitting "OK" dismisses it.

 

You have to register Avast once a year. By default it announces when it updates, but you can turn the sound off. You also should schedule a once a week full scan. Scheduling the scan at a day/time when you aren't likely to be too busy on the computer makes life easier and both of these products have that capability.

 

 

I listed some other good AV products in an early post in this thread, too.

 

 

Oops. One more thing. When removing Norton, McAfee and in some cases AVG it is best to use the removal tool for the product. For Norton and McAfee don't bother with the uninstaller in Windows. Just run the respective removal tool to make sure they are properly uninstalled:

 

http://majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html

 

http://majorgeeks.com/McAfee_Consumer_Product_Removal_Tool_d5420.html

 

For AVG, use the Uninstall AVG in windows and then use this:

 

http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-tools

 

Avira and Avast need no special removal tools to be properly uninstalled.

 

 

I would use the removal tool for Avast as well. I have seen a few times recently where the add/remove programs doesn't do the trick.

 

http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

[The Dean]

I would use the removal tool for Avast as well. I have seen a few times recently where the add/remove programs doesn't do the trick.

 

http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

 

 

Thanks, bug. It is now on my stick!

 

I haven't had to uninstall Avast too often, as it usually is performing well on machines I work on. AVG, McAfee, Norton and Trend Micro almost always are screwing up and have to go when I work on problem machines.